Kamwendo, Zicco steal show

Joseph Kamwendo and Zicco Mkanda’s commanding displays earned Liga Maculmana the 2013 Mozambique Super Cup after beating Maxaquene 2-1 in Maputo on Sunday.

Chiukepo Msowoya was unregistered to play for Maxaquene. Goalkeeper Simplex Nthala was on Maculmana bench, but the afternoon belonged to Mkanda, who came off the bench to score, and Kamwendo who impressed at the National Stadium.

This was a replay after the game was called off on Saturday night due to power failure in the 88th minute. Maxaquene were then leading 1-0, according to Nthala and scout James Nelito Pondamale.

While Mkanda came in the Saturday match as a substitute, Kamwendo started the match.

In Sunday’s replay, Mkanda pulled level in added time before a Mozambican teammate clinched the winner.

“The replay kicked off from the 88th minute and the same squads were featured. It was in five minutes of added time that Mkanda, who was introduced in the 60th minute, scored to put the game into extra time,” Nthala said in a telephone interview.

According to Pondamale, Maculmana president Rafid Sidat is also impressed with Kamwendo who joined them last month from Mighty Wanderers.

“They played a friendly game two days ago with Costa Do Sol. He scored a beautiful one of his trademark and many were talking about him. The same night, I received a call from the club president, saying he is so happy with the recommendation I made,” Pondamale explained through an e-mail.

It was the first time Kamwendo played in Mozambique as he, upon signing, travelled with Maculmana to South Africa for pre-season games against Angola and Cape Verde national teams.

Of late, there has been an increase of Malawian players signing for Mozambican teams. Other players who have moved to Mozambique in recent weeks are Jimmy Chikulekule, Gerald Chimbaka and Godfrey Masonda.